SU-122-54 Self-propelled artillery - Program
The first prototype of the promising SAU was built at the end of 1950 and soon entered the factory tests. After some modifications, the sample was presented to the customer. In the early summer of 1951, the prototype passed preliminary tests. In August, state tests took place. In general, the new car vehicle met military requirements, but it was not without faults. It was found that weapon guidance systems forced the gunner to make excessive efforts on the flywheels. The pneumatic barrel purge system showed insufficient efficiency. There were problems with machine guns. Also it was needed to refine the gun in order to improve the accuracy of shooting.
Identified deficiencies should be corrected as soon as possible. At the same time, the self-propelled gun officially passed state tests and was recommended for use. The last months of 1951, plant No. 174 and its design bureau were engaged in preparing the necessary documentation and organizing the future mass production of new equipment. All these works were completed before the end of the year, which made it possible to start assembling the first serial self-propelled guns.
In parallel with the deployment of mass production, Omsk specialists were engaged in finalizing the project in accordance with the wishes of the customer, expressed on the results of past tests. The result of this work was the emergence of a second experimental armored vehicles. The model, built in the first quarter of 1952, was distinguished by the presence of an ejector gun, improved guidance systems and other design changes. In the middle of the year, the machine was tested, becoming a model for subsequent serial equipment.
The finalization of the project with subsequent construction and testing of the second prototype had a negative impact on the total duration of the work. The decision of the Council of Ministers on the adoption of new equipment into service came out only on March 15, 1954. This document assigned a new designation SU-122-54 to Object 600. The first batch of serial production self-propelled units was transferred to the army only in the next year. Subsequently, the customer received several more batches.
According to reports, the mass production of SAU SU-122-54 was carried out only for several years. Already in 1957, the army handed over the last batch, after which the assembly of equipment stopped. The halt in production was due to the lack of necessary components. Due to certain difficulties, only 77 D-49 cannons were released. As a result, the total number of new types of equipment could not exceed 77 units, including two prototypes. Not the most numerous armored vehicles were transferred to land forces, where they were distributed among several units.
It is known that in 1958 a certain number of SU-122-54 self-propelled guns were modernized, which meant the replacement of some units. In particular, in the course of repairing and updating the SAU, new types of radio stations were received. In addition, it is precisely this time that the first cases of disarming combat vehicles and restructuring the chassis of new projects.
The small number of serial production equipment did not allow starting mass operation. Because of this, the role of the new self-propelled artillery installations was small. In addition, progress did not stand still, and new versions of equipment designed to replace the SU-122-54 were already being created. Finally, after a time, there began active work on rocket topics, which led to a reduction in the role of self-propelled artillery. Such factors had a negative impact on the further fate of the existing technology. In the mid-1960s, the SU-122-54 was considered obsolete, and then began to be removed from service.
It is noteworthy that the modified chassis of the medium tank T-54, which became the basis for the “Object 600” / SU-122-54, was of interest as a base for other types of new technology. Thus, as early as 1955, an artillery mobile armored observation post (APBNP) "Object 610" or "Buffalo" was created. The armored vehicle with a set of viewing devices was brought to the testing stage, but did not go into the series. It was built only two "Buffalo". At the beginning of the 1970s, there were projects of an armored tractor BTS-600 and technical assistance vehicles MTP-3. The tractor did not go into series production, while the technical assistance machine received some distribution. In the early eighties, the BMR-1 combat demining machine was developed.
By the time of the write-off, not all SU-122-54 self-propelled guns managed to exhaust the lifetime of their chassis. In this regard, the equipment was sent to repair factories, where more unnecessary units were removed from it with the subsequent installation of new devices. After such repairs, most of the artillery mounts “turned” into mine clearance and technical assistance vehicles. In the new role the technician was exploited in the next few decades. A number of armored vehicles were not sent for conversion. These machines were transferred to educational institutions of the armed forces for the training of future gunners.
Despite the small number of mass-produced machines and the subsequent alteration of the available equipment, a number of SAU SU-122-54 survived to reecent times. One of the samples of unique technology is in the Kubinka Armored Museum. Another is an exhibit of the Krasnodar Weapon of Victory Museum. In both cases these are combat vehicles with guns, equipped with ejectors.
The self-propelled artillery installation "Object 600" / SU-122-54 was put into service only in early 1954. The delay in the work had a negative impact on the further fate of the technology: work has already begun on more efficient samples with improved characteristics. In addition, the insufficient release of the required guns forced the industry to stop the construction of self-propelled guns in the first hundred. A small number of built combat vehicles, as well as some lag from the modern characteristics determined the further fate of the entire program. In its current form, SU-122-54 was not of great interest to the army. Later, the development of the SAU was continued, but now new ideas and solutions have been applied. All available SU-122-54, however, were written off.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
